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The Weekly Democratic Party Address was delivered by Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA) and addressed the horrific shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and the need for Congressional action to stop gun violence and hate crimes.

(Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA) of Pennsylvania, delivered the Weekly Democratic Address. In this week’s address, Congressman Doyle addressed the horrific shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and the need for Congressional action to stop gun violence and hate crimes.)

We need a stronger public response to the hate speech on social media that demonizes others, reinforces prejudice, and very likely incites some individuals to violence. We all have a responsibility to speak up and condemn hate speech when we see it. […]

Also, we need to come together to reduce the gun violence that’s ripping our country apart. You would think that after all of the tragedies in Connecticut, Florida, Colorado, Nevada, and now here in Pittsburgh, that Congress would finally come together to pass common-sense gun safety legislation.

“Hi, I’m Mike Doyle and I have the privilege of representing the city of Pittsburgh in the United States Congress.

“Pittsburgh is a big small city with some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. As a lifelong resident there, I can tell you that we take great pride in our city, and our sports teams!

“One of the best neighborhoods in our city is Squirrel Hill. It is the center of the Jewish community in Pittsburgh, but it’s also a neighborhood where people of all races, colors, and faith traditions coexist in a friendly and peaceful atmosphere.

“Last Saturday morning started like any other in this peaceful little neighborhood, and then something unimaginable happened. A shooter entered the Tree of Life Synagogue and brutally murdered 11 congregants, and wounded 4 police officers who confronted him as he was attempting to leave. This beautiful, friendly little neighborhood had now become the scene of the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in the history of our country.

“We were in shock and our hearts were broken. How could this happen here? But as we all know, this can happen anywhere.

“In the midst of this darkest day in our history, rays of light began to shine through. Our first responders who ran towards the shooter to stop him and rescue and care for those still in the Synagogue. High school students who organized a vigil just hours after the attack that was attended by thousands. Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists – every faith community in every neighborhood – standing shoulder to shoulder in support of their Jewish brothers and sisters. And the Jewish community of Pittsburgh, who throughout their history have had to confront anti-Semitism, saying loud and clear, ‘We will not let hate close this Synagogue. Hate and violence have no place here. Love will conquer hate.’

“But it doesn’t end there.

“Pittsburghers have been moved and comforted by the outpouring of love and support we have received from all over the Country and around the world. Acts of kindness and generosity from people with no connection to Pittsburgh have touched our hearts and given us strength. On behalf of the people of Pittsburgh, I want to say thank you. We deeply appreciate the gestures of love and support we’ve received.

“A dear friend of mine in the Jewish Community said to me, ‘This week, we mourn the loss of our friends and neighbors. Next week, we act.’

“And act we must. Americans must get to work and be willing to confront the symptoms of this violence.

“The first problem we need to address is the hate-filled language dominating our politics and public discourse. As Americans, we cherish our freedom of speech, but just because we can say something doesn’t mean that we should. I believe that Americans in the public arena must tone down their rhetoric, exercise restraint, and treat those with different viewpoints with respect – because we’ve got to work our way through some difficult conversations.

“This starts at the top, but all of us in public life need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves, ‘Will we speak words that unite our country or divide it?’

“We desperately need to talk about problems like prejudice, mental illness, and gun violence – but more importantly, we need to act.

“For starters, we need a stronger public response to the hate speech on social media that demonizes others, reinforces prejudice, and very likely incites some individuals to violence. We all have a responsibility to speak up and condemn hate speech when we see it. Moreover, we have a responsibility to let law enforcement know if we think a crime is about to be committed.

“We also need to do more to treat mental illness in this country. Of course, not everyone who commits a crime is mentally ill, and few Americans with mental health issues ever commit a violent act.

“Nevertheless, in several deadly hate crimes over the last decades, the shooters suffered from mental illness. That shouldn’t be surprising. Mental health has historically been neglected and under-funded. This is the richest Country in the world. Surely, we can afford to provide mental health care to our neighbors who need it. Put another way, can we afford not to?

“And finally, we need to come together to reduce the gun violence that’s ripping our country apart. You would think that after all of the tragedies in Connecticut, Florida, Colorado, Nevada, and now here in Pittsburgh, that Congress would finally come together to pass common-sense gun safety legislation.

“The sad reality is that this Congress has done nothing to address gun violence in this country. Not a single one of the many bills introduced to combat gun violence has been allowed to come to the Floor for a vote by the Republican leadership.

“This has to change! Americans have a right to know where their Member of Congress stands on these important issues. Congress has to act! To stand by and do nothing – as innocents are murdered in our communities – seems like a crime in its own right. We owe it to those we have lost to make our communities safer, healthier and more civil.

“Democrats in Congress are ready to work – and more importantly vote – on these issues. We welcome the opportunity to work with our Republican colleagues to enact bipartisan legislation to reduce hate crimes, gun violence and mental illness in this country.

“That would be the best way to honor the lives lost in Pittsburgh this week.

“Thank you, and God Bless our country.”

Any bolding has been added.

~

Congress is in recess until after the mid-term elections and there was no weekly news conference from Democratic Party leadership on Thursday.

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released this statement on President Trump’s claim that he can issue an executive order and unilaterally terminate the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of citizenship:

“President Trump’s new claim he can unilaterally end the Constitution’s guarantee of citizenship shows Republicans’ spiraling desperation to distract from their assault on Medicare, Medicaid and people with pre-existing conditions.

“The President does not have the power to erase parts of the Constitution, but he and the GOP Congress have spent two years trying to erase protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

“Clearly, Republicans will do absolutely anything to divert attention away from their votes to take away Americans’ health care.”

San Francisco — Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released this statement after the Department of Labor issued its October jobs report:

“October’s jobs report has some positive news, but hard-working families across America find themselves on shakier ground than ever.

“Republicans’ war on health care has needlessly raised costs, enabled prescription drug prices to continue to soar, and threatened to destroy protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Big corporations and the wealthiest 1 percent are raking in their deficit-exploding GOP tax scam windfalls, while Republican leaders renew their call to slash Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security for our seniors.

“The GOP Congress is hollowing out the future of the middle class to enrich the special interests. Democrats are For The People: lower health costs and prescription drug prices, raise wages with strong economic growth by rebuilding America, and clean up corruption to make Washington work for all Americans.”

San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on the start of open enrollment in the Affordable Care Act’s insurance marketplaces, which runs in most states from November 1 until December 15:

“Starting today, Americans across the country will once again have the opportunity to enroll in affordable, quality health insurance for themselves and their families.

“While two years of Republicans’ health care sabotage has made insurance much more expensive than it needs to be, eight out of ten people in the marketplaces qualify for financial help that will keep their premiums low. For most people, that assistance means they can find plans for under $75 a month.

“Democrats have made lowering health care costs and prescription drug prices a top priority of our For The People agenda for the majority. We will continue to work for lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs for families and relentlessly defend the vital protections for people with pre-existing conditions guaranteed under the law.”

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi will become Speaker Nancy Pelosi (again!) thanks to the Democratic takeover of the House in the midterms. She crafted the “it’s the health care!” message and deserves the credit for her caucus and the Democrats running to unseat Republicans staying on message. There are a dozen or so Democratic members who ran on the promise to not vote for her as Speaker because of scary Republican ads run in their districts. That they are scared is sad and I hope that their votes are not needed.

Nancy Pelosi is often treated as a far-left cartoon character, but she is a wiley operative, long skilled in the art of backroom political pressure and dealmaking. Her speech last night was balanced and focused on results. I think many may be surprised by her strategic acumen.

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